Udall Urges his Senate Colleagues to Debate, Work Quickly Toward Final Passage of 2012 Farm Bill
Following a Senate vote to begin consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill today, Mark Udall urged his colleagues to engage in a debate that moves the bill expeditiously to final passage to provide stability and resources for farmers, ranchers and rural communities around the country - and in turn, protect jobs and reduce the deficit.
"As the full Senate considers the Farm Bill, I urge my colleagues to have a productive debate on the amendments that will affect agricultural producers, small businesses and rural communities around the country. We owe it to our constituents to work toward a final compromise on legislation that strengthens American agriculture and provides certainty for the conservation, nutrition and forestry groups that also rely on the Farm Bill," Udall said. "I will keep working with my colleagues to avoid election-year partisanship and find certainty for our farmers, ranchers and rural Coloradans by finalizing a 2012 Farm Bill."
The bipartisan bill to replace the 2008 Farm Bill, which expires on September 30, 2012, has the support of various agricultural, forestry, conservation and nutrition groups throughout Colorado. It is projected to reduce the deficit by more than $23 billion over 10 years. Last month, Udall joined 43 other senators from both parties to call for a fair and open consideration of the Farm Bill; read the letter HERE. He and five other members of the Colorado delegation also urged Senate and House Agriculture Committees to swiftly advance a Farm Bill to help agricultural producers, land managers and food organizations make long-term planning decisions as they feed our nation.